Mick Schumacher, who was once touted as the future of German motorsport in Formula 1, is currently engaged in negotiations with Alpine regarding a potential role within their FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC) team for the 2024 season, according to a report by The Independent.
Just a few years ago, Schumacher’s meteoric rise in motorsport was evident when he clinched the 2020 Formula 2 championship, an achievement that paved the way for his entry into Formula 1 with the Haas team in 2021.
However, his debut season with Haas was fraught with challenges as the team had one of the least competitive cars on the grid, resulting in Schumacher failing to secure a single championship point despite delivering promising performances.
It wasn’t until the 2022 season, during the Silverstone Grand Prix, that Schumacher finally earned his first Formula 1 point.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
He followed up this success with an impressive career-best sixth-place finish in Austria.
Nevertheless, Kevin Magnussen’s stint as a substitute driver for Haas demonstrated what an experienced driver could achieve with the same car, leading to Schumacher being replaced by Nico Hulkenberg.
Schumacher subsequently took on a role as a test driver for the Mercedes Formula 1 team, but his career may be set to take another turn.
Alpine, the French manufacturer, is now in discussions with Mick Schumacher regarding the possibility of him racing for their team in the 2024 season.
However, this venture would not see Schumacher return to Formula 1; instead, he would be participating in the FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC), with Alpine fielding two cars in the series.
Addressing the potential collaboration with Mick Schumacher, Alpine’s interim boss, Bruno Famin, stated:
“It’s true that we are talking with Mick about the possibility to race in our endurance programme with the A424.
“It would be a good opportunity for both parties.
“But for the time being, we are just talking, and hopefully, we will organise a test soon.”
READ: George Russell chimes in on controversial subject ahead of 2023 Qatar GP
Sebastian Vettel, a four-time Formula 1 World Champion and one of Mick Schumacher’s staunch supporters, has emphasised the importance of the 24-year-old driver’s return to the Formula 1 grid.
Germany, once known for consistently producing world-class racing talent, has seen a decline in representation on the Formula 1 grid, with Nico Hulkenberg, who turned 36 in August, being the sole German driver.
The absence of German drivers extends to lower tiers of motorsport, with no Germans currently competing in Formula 2. Oliver Goethe and Sophia Florsch are the only German entrants in Formula 3.